Peter Anthony Libasci

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Peter Anthony Libasci
Bishop of Manchester
BISHOP PETER ANTHONY LIBASCI.jpg
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseManchester
AppointedSeptember 19, 2011
InstalledDecember 8, 2011
PredecessorJohn Brendan McCormack
Orders
OrdinationApril 1, 1978
ConsecrationJune 1, 2007
by William Murphy, Emil Aloysius Wcela, Paul Henry Walsh and John Charles Dunne
Personal details
Born (1951-11-09) November 9, 1951 (age 70)
Jackson Heights, Queens, New York
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre
MottoArise and Walk
Styles of
Peter Anthony Libasci
Coat of arms of Peter Anthony Libasci.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Peter Anthony Libasci (born 9 November 1951) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as the Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire since 2011. Libasci previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre from 2007 to 2011.

Libasci is a bi-ritual priest, being permitted to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and administer the sacraments in both the Latin Church and the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.[1]

Biography[]

Early life and education[]

Peter A. Libasci was born on 9 November 1951, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Libasci is of Italian (Sicilian) heritage on his paternal side and of Slovak heritage on his maternal side.[2]He attended St. Margaret School in Middle Village, New York, followed by Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst, Queens.Libasci obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. John's University and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. After his ordination, he received a Master of Theology-Catechetical Ministry at degree from St. John's.[3]

Ordination and ministry[]

On 1 April 1978, Libasci was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. After his ordination, he served as parochial vicar at Saint Raymond's Parish in East Rockaway, New York (1978–1982), and at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, Deer Park, New York (1982–1988); parish administrator at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Inwood, New York, (1988–1989), and then pastor of the same parish (1989–2000). From 2000 to 2007 Libasci was pastor at Saint Therese of Lisieux Parish in Montauk, New York.

On 10 December 2004, Libasci was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, by Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.

Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, New York[]

Libasci was named titular bishop of Satafis, and auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, on 3 April 2007. He received his episcopal consecration on June 1 2007 from Bishop William Murphy, with auxiliary bishops Emil Aloysius Wcela, Paul Henry Walsh and John Charles Dunne serving as co-consecrators.[4]

As auxiliary bishop, Libasci was episcopal vicar for the Vicariate East (Suffolk County), of the Diocese. He also celebrated the liturgy for the Ruthenian Catholic community, which celebrates liturgy in the Byzantine rite.[1]

Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire[]

On September 19, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Libasci as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Manchester.[5] He was installed on December 8 2011.

Accusations[]

On July 22, 2021, Libasci was named in a lawsuit accusing him of child molestation between 1983 and 1984 when Libasci was a priest at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish School in New York.[6] The accuser, then 12 or 13 years old, said that Libasci fondled his genitals on "numerous occasions", including one instance when the boy was setting up the altar for Mass. [7]The lawsuit also named the Sisters of St. Joseph, the religious order running the school at the time, of neglecting to prevent the abuse.[8]Libasci denied the accusations.[9] On August 29, 2021, the Archdiocese of Boston announced a formal investigation into the accusations.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "New bishop is 'bi-ritual', a rare practice in church". Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ^ "The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Bishop Peter A. Libasci Biography". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci (Catholic Hierarchy)". Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  5. ^ "RINUNCIA DEL VESCOVO DI MANCHESTER (U.S.A.) E NOMINA DEL SUCCESSORE". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  6. ^ Downey, K. C. (2021-07-22). "Bishop of Diocese of Manchester accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  7. ^ Crompton, Jennifer (2021-07-24). "Diocese of Manchester bishop accused in lawsuit of sexually abusing minor". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  8. ^ McKeown, Jonah (July 23, 2021). "Lawsuit brings sex abuse allegations against New Hampshire bishop". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Callery, Tim (2021-07-24). "Manchester Bishop Libasci 'categorically denies' sex abuse accusations, attorney says". WMUR. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  10. ^ "Church investigation into Libasci allegations underway". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

External links[]

Episcopal succession[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Manchester
2011–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre
2007-2011 		Succeeded by
–
Retrieved from ""